NASA Camp
Designing a Landing Pod
Lift Off!
Engineers design rockets to launch spacecrafts.
On the Moon
The lunar module landed astronauts safely on the moon.
Astronauts
Courageous astronauts explore space.
What do astronauts do? What dangers do they face?
Answer these questions in your journal: Why do astronauts need space suits? Why is it dangerous to be an astronaut?
What problems do engineers face when they design a landing pod?
How do NASA engineers solve problems?
Team Challenge: Design and build a Landing Pod that will descend 8 feet and safely land two egg astronauts on the floor.
How can you improve your design for the second drop test?
What worked best for your team? How did you improve your design?
Summary: Draw a design that you believe will work best to safely land the landing pod and astronauts on the moon. Write a letter to NASA to explain why you think your design will work.
Launch Your Satellite Challenge
Design a balloon rocket to launch the satellite that you built in Ms. Ballard's class. The goal is to get the satellite to go as far as possible.
Ask
How can we propel the satellite down the fishing line?
Imagine
What is the best design to make our satellite travel from one end of the line to the other?
Plan
Design a rocket that will launch your satellite from the Earth to the Moon.